UV index in Madrid in February
In February, the UV index in Madrid typically peaks around 3.7 at midday — moderate on the WHO scale — with individual days reaching 5 in recent years. Sun protection is needed around the middle of the day.
How fast would you burn?
Estimated time to sunburn in unprotected midday sun at UV 3.7:
| Skin type | Time to burn |
|---|---|
| I — Very fair | ~36 min |
| II — Fair | ~45 min |
| III — Medium | ~1h 5m |
| IV — Olive | ~1h 20m |
Estimates from typical minimal erythemal doses — see methodology. Darker types (V–VI) burn slower still. Reflection off water or sand shortens all of these.
What to do about it
- Pack SPF 30+ and use it for extended midday time outside — fair skin can burn in under an hour at these levels.
- Mornings and late afternoons are generally low-risk without protection.
- Sunglasses are worth it: cumulative UV drives cataracts even at moderate levels.
Planning a trip? Check the live UV index in Madrid closer to your dates — day-to-day cloud cover moves the real number around this average.
Madrid's UV year at a glance
| Month | Typical midday peak | Level |
|---|---|---|
| January | 2.4 | Low |
| February | 3.7 | Moderate |
| March | 4.2 | Moderate |
| April | 6.5 | High |
| May | 7.3 | High |
| June | 7.7 | High |
| July | 8 | Very high |
| August | 7.3 | High |
| September | 5.9 | Moderate |
| October | 4.1 | Moderate |
| November | 2.9 | Low |
| December | 2.3 | Low |
The strongest month is July (typical peak 8); the gentlest is December (typical peak 2.3).
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